This blog is about life on board our narrowboat Sanity Again, cruising the inland waterways of the UK (mainly in the spring, summer and autumn) and living in a marina in the winter. It's the way I choose to write it; if you don't like it, there are many other boating blogs.

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Two days in one.

We started off in thick mist this morning. It was supposed to clear by eight but hung around for a long time. Sheila even had the tunnel light on for the first half hour or so. We'd planned, as you know, to stop at Burston today and carry on to Tixall tomorrow, but a look at the forecast for Friday suggested that a day off cruising was indicated. Tixall being better than Burston for hanging around, we tightened our locking belts and went for it. I worked us down the Stone flight and Aston lock, then took over the helm when we got to the Burston mooring.

This gave Sheila Sandon, Weston and Hoo Mill to do. It was just after twelve when we'd got down Weston, so I went below and ate lunch whilst Sheila steered. Sheila was able to get hers in instalments before and after Hoo Mill and I think supervised the turn onto the Staffs and Worcs still munching.

That turn means that we've finished the Four Counties Ring, of course, just six weeks after starting it. Well, that's a lot more pleasant than doing it in six days, which is what the hirers actually have to achieve when they do the "Four Counties in a week" bit.

Talking of sixes, today's boating took nearly six hours, a serious stretch for us.

This afternoon, we've visited the Farm Shop to get the ingredients for one last salad tonight before this amazingly warm weather breaks and we're back to the normal September stuff. We'll stay here on Tixall tomorrow and then plod on to Brindley Bank on Saturday.

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Our eBooks

We've now written four e-books. We have been selling them via Amazon, but we've taken the decision to avoid benefitting from Amazon's tax avoidance strategies. Instead, if you would like a copy of any of these, please email me using the link below, saying which ereader you use. I'll send you a copy in return for a donation to a waterways or cancer charity of your choice.

Building Sanity Again is an account of just that, based on the blog I did whilst it was all going on and with an evaluative chapter added.

A Boater's Commonplace Book is Sheila's compilation of answers to the questions we've been asked during our time as liveaboard boaters such as "Is it cold in the winter?" and "How far have you been?"

Tales from the Towpath is another of Sheila's compilations, this time of all the funny things that have happened to us on the waterways over the last 35 years plus, together with some stories we've only heard about.

Practically Cooking on Board is my cookbook, using ingredients and equipment reasonably readily available to the boater. No sous vide or liquid nitrogen here!

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Cruising plan: Spring and Summer 2017

After a winter in the marina, we plan to set off again at the beginning of April, heading for Stourport, the Severn and then the Droitwich. Then we'll make our way back via Tardebigge, Lapworth and Hatton to arrive at Crick in good time for the Show.

After that, we may well head back north to the Llangollen, aiming to arrive at Poynton in late August for the Owners' Weekend and Open Day.